Nic Nat, time is running out..

[tor01doc]

And NicNat will start as sub first game back!!

[eaglesman]

There is a reason why Joel Selwood isn't in many teams, he has had and injury interrupted preseason yet is capable of being top three mids. Yet we are all hoping NicNat can get up for round one even though he has probably had a worse pre-season than Joel. I can't see myself picking him to be honest especially with Sandi at r2 too much risk in my opinion.

Its not as though he hasn't done a preseason though. He has been running since November.
Its just he hasn't been training with the main group to avoid change of direction and reactive movements, as a precautionary because it could cause his groins to flair up. Now he has been training with the main group for close to a month (off the top of my head). His fitness definitely won't be the issue

Compared to Joel who has missed weeks recently. And the fact that NicNat is under priced where as Jelwood isn't.

your source share anything with you today about nic nat???

[Grazz]

Yeh Rico said he will play mate.

[quinny88]

Eh  >:( have kept NicNat the whole time and was happy for everyone to jump off him but after Simmos comments I think I'm forced to push him out

[colmullet]

so....how did he go in the practice match? still got over two weeks till round 1 for west coast so he's got time on his side a little still

[Ricochet]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/video/2014-03-06/naitanui-postmatch-v-fremantle

[Keeper27]

on ball?? LOL... wow def gonna be a difficult tag.

[jfitty]

The thing I'm keeping in mind with Naitanui is the fact that in 2013 he averaged 119 in that little 6-game stretch after making his season debut before the groin got to him.

It seems he can score well whether he has a preseason or not, just a matter of if he's right to go for round 1.

[RaisyDaisy]

So if we don't start with NicNat, who is the best alternative?

I would have thought Leuy, for around the same price, but Brisbane has a tough early draw, starting with the Hawks at Aurora, and Luey also has his bye the same time as Sandi, as theres every chance that Sandi could still be firing for us come their bye, so having both out, or even upgrading Sandi still causes issue for rd10

I have Leuy currently, but the above concerns me, but there are no bloody easy options for R1 and its doing my head in!

[kilbluff1985]

i really like Big Boy i think the Hawks chip the ball around style suits him and being in a winning team cant hurt either

[RaisyDaisy]

i really like Big Boy i think the Hawks chip the ball around style suits him and being in a winning team cant hurt either

Agree - very tempted to go with him, and he fits the bill price wise too

His average dropped last year, but then again the Saints were pathetic, and previously he averaged 104

I can see him averaging the 95 mark for the season, with the odd 120+ game and a handful of sub 80 games, and that's where the concern is

If I am going to outlay 500k+ on a ruck, I want them to be a keeper all year and turn into R2 after Sandi gets upgraded to the best ruck mid season, and I'm not sure if Big Boy, or even Luey are good enough for R2 in a finalised team?

[connor]

Big Boy McEvoy as a suitably cheap substitute

[kilbluff1985]

it's Luey's draw that has me picking Big Boy instead i always prefer having a player in a winning team also

[_wato]

Tough draws doesn't always mean bad scores for ruck man though? I mean Hawthorn, Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney, Essendon, Richmond etc don't have the best ruck man or in form/fit ruck man.. North/Eagles/Dogs/Dockers have the stronger teams with stronger ruck man yet we wouldn't always classify them in the top bracket of elite teams.

Leuey will average 105-110 I reckon, and will share the ruck 80-20 with West. He can also kick goals which is handy. No more Longer as a specialised ruck man to take points from him.

I currently have him over Naitanui at this stage

[kilbluff1985]

i'm not saying it means bad scores i just don't think it helps